Press release

Attorney
General Eric T. Schneiderman issued a warning to New Yorkers today after
receiving information from multiple consumers about a scam targeting senior
citizens with robo-calls advising that they have been "approved" for
medical alert equipment at "no charge." The message uses scare
tactics to induce consumers to respond to the offer, warning of a "significant
rise in the number of senior citizens suffering death and serious
life-threatening injuries from a delay in response times for medical
emergencies, fires, burglaries or even a simple fall." The robo-call identifies
the business as "Senior Medical Alert" or "Senior Medical Advisers" and
attempts to obtain consumers' billing information in order to charge those
consumers $35 monthly for alleged "monitoring" services.

"Unfortunately,
the elderly are disproportionately targeted by scam artists and are often the
victims of fraud and abuse," Schneiderman said. "To prevent senior citizens
from becoming victimized, we must educate them and their loved ones with
information they can use to protect themselves."

Consumers
have also reported receiving subsequent, more aggressive and harassing calls
from this organization in an attempt to obtain consumers' billing information.
The scammers appear to be operating from the Syracuse or Utica area, using telephone numbers with a 315
area code, including the following number: 315-294-5936. The attorney general
is urging anyone who receives such a call not to provide the caller with any
billing or other personal information.

During
an undercover call conducted by the attorney general's office, the
representative provided a bogus address in Orlando, Fla., as the main
headquarters of the alleged business and also claimed to be affiliated with the
insurance company United Health.

Schneiderman
issued the following tips for seniors and other members of the public so they
can avoid becoming victims of fraud:

•Never
give out billing or other personal information over the phone, especially if
you receive an unsolicited telephone call from a stranger.

•Never
cash a check from an unknown source, especially if you are being asked to wire
a portion of the proceeds to a stranger.

•Never
wire money to someone you don't know who contacts you; it's the same as handing
over cash.

If
you feel you've been a victim of this type of scam or any other type of
consumer fraud, call the attorney general's consumer helpline: 1-800-771-7755.